Colorado Springs has announced plans to reconstruct a youth golf facility at Valley Hi golf course, with the project carrying a price tag of $1.2 million. The nonprofit First Tee, which runs programming at the course, focuses its work on golfers between the ages of 3 and 18.
First Tee pairs golf instruction with broader character-building goals, with Chief Executive Officer Sandy Johnson describing the program's mission as centered on "leadership and life skill development through the game of golf," alongside qualities such as self-confidence and resilience.
The rebuilt center will incorporate structural improvements alongside new technology, including a pair of golf simulators, a room adaptable for multiple uses, and dedicated putting greens. Johnson said the program's participants stand to benefit significantly from the simulator technology, noting: "We are really excited to have access to technology through the golf simulators to learn and practice their game."
Beyond youth programming, the center is intended to serve a wider public audience, with planned activities that give families, mentors, and community members access to competitive and instructional golf opportunities. The structure, at 2,000 square feet, is not projected to open before spring 2027 at the soonest.
Details on funding sources, the project's approval pathway, and any construction benchmarks have not yet been made public, and those elements of the plan remain to be disclosed.